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Safety laws miss their target
Page 26
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IN YOUR Health and Safety issue of 11 December, Dr John Powell of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) SE asserts that health and safety is very much a matter of risk management. Of course it is, so why cannot politicians see it as such?
Governments respond to public pressure rather than a rational analysis of potential hazards. Fatalities. particularly in transport systems,are justification for expensive inquiries and, almost inevitably. demands for instant rectification and retribution.Yet minor incidents can be more informative of weaknesses in design or of procedures than deaths which, very often, occur merely through chance.
A broken rail led to a massive disruption and expense in the network, but safety barriers on motorways have been shown time and time again to be unable to restrain an errant heavy vehicle from breaking through and causing the loss of innocent lives.
The simplest and cheapest modifications to procedures can be highly cost-effective. Better to fit a warning light to tell you that the front part of your ship is insecure before you leave port.You are obliged to fit seat-belts to your vehicles, so why are you denied one if you travel by train?
Safety has always been misunderstood by our legislators. Millions are squandered by attempting to enforce road traffic laws which are nonsensical, and no substitute for driver judgement. Pressing for corporate manslaughter charges after an 'accident' is seen as politically correct whereas action directed at preventing such events occurring carries less kudos. Whistle-blowers and suggestion boxes are frowned upon: making examples of managers whose best efforts have failed to prevent tragedies is highlighted.
And still the unnecessary carnage goes on. victims wait interminably for justice and the taxpayer continues to pay for the ineptitude of others.
Anthony G Phillips Salisbury, Wiltshire